Black Sesame Seed Ahi Tuna Salad

Here is the last salad in this short series. There will be plenty of salads coming once we get the gardens growing. Don’t be shy to add to this salad, I didn’t realize I forgot to take pictures of the shredded carrots, green onions and mandarin orange slices. I will add them in the recipe so hopefully you won’t be as forgetful as I was.

As as many of you know, fish is a part of a heart healthy diet. No, I’m not talking about fried catfish or crappie. For that matter we should stay away from fried food, period, we need to listen to that. Have I had fried food since my HA, yes, but we are talking about a bite or a very small piece, definitely not a meal of it. What I have noticed, the further apart I take a bite of something fried, the more I don’t want it. Okay, back to the benefits of fish, baked, grilled or seared. Fish is high in Omega 3, which benefits heart health along with lowering cholesterol and reduce blood pressure. Even if you’re taking omega 3 daily as a supplement, you will get great protein from tuna.

While working with fish and marinating you need to remember acids will start to cook your fish. The marinade for this recipe, I leave on for about 15-20 minutes. Please remember if you’re using citrus to use a stainless steel (non reactive) or a glass dish to marinate in. Citrus is reactive to aluminum or copper. For the marinade you will need, sesame oil, fresh ginger, STH seasoning, garlic cloves and coconut aminos. You will mix all ingredients in a bowl and place your ahi tuna in and cover.

Just a background on coconut aminos, it’s a great replacement for soy sauce. Of course Asian food tends to be very high in sodium, coconut amino is around 140 mg of sodium per teaspoon. Now, you can find lower sodium coconut aminos, but around here this is the only one I could find. You can find one that is 90 mg which I will order after I use my bottle. I will put think here for the lower sodium brand.

While your tuna is marinating let’s mix the vinaigrette and prep the produce. The vinaigrette and marinade are similar with a few adjustments on items. You will add apple cider vinegar, honey and avocado oil along with sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and coconut aminos. You will mix all ingredients in a jar and shake well. If you haven’t bought a case of pint or half pint jars go ahead and do it, you know I like to store and use these jars, lol.

As I prepare my salad I am always preparing for two servings, but in the case of the asparagus, grab extra to dice just to snack on. Yes, I said to snack on, here is some good information on me, I don’t like asparagus. But, this is delicious! I sliced the asparagus into 1”-2” pieces, toss in a bowl with olive oil, STH seasoning, sesame oil, coconut aminos and jalapeño dust. If you don’t have any jalapeño dust, use crushed red pepper. The heat is great on this salad and I highly recommend giving it a try. once tossed put in the air fryer at 380 for 10 minutes, if you like your asparagus more tender, turn cook time down to 6-8 minutes.

Lets get the ahi tuna steak seared. I used a

cast iron skillet, but use what you have. While preheating your pan use avocado oil, avocado oil has a higher heat point, get a plate and sprinkle some black sesame seeds, regular sesame seeds will work too.

Press your tuna steaks into the sesame seeds on both sides and place in your preheated skillet. I set mine on med high heat, you want to get a good sear on the steaks. I prefer my tuna medium, some prefer rare, my sister does not want to see any shade of pink. I sent her the picture of the tuna steak and her reply was, “you can have that one, but not for me”. Now that I have dished on Lisa you can’t cook you tuna steak more. I cook mine just under 3 minutes on each side, I do not lift the steaks until it’s time to flip or remove. Adjust your preference off of 3 minutes, I would not go over 5 minutes, it will be cooked, but you don’t want it over cooked.

Once you have cooked your steaks, place on cutting board. Put your greens on each plate, I chose spinach and romaine, the spinach I think goes well with the Asian flavors with this salad. By this time your asparagus has roasted in your airfryer, place on each plate. Remember to add all of your goodies to the greens. Tomatoes, green onions, mandarin oranges and bell peppers would even be good. Slice your tuna steaks and plate.

Add the vinaigrette and I added hemp heart seeds, they add a nice nutty flavor to this dish. Here are some benefits of hemp heart seeds.

Black Sesame Seed Ahi Tuna Salad

2- 4 oz ahi tuna steak

Black sesame seeds

Spinach fresh

Romaine lettuce

1 carrot shredded

3 green onions diced

Asparagus

Mandarin Oranges drained

Hemp heart seeds

Ahi Tuna Marinade

2 tsp Sesame seed oil

2 tsp coconut aminos

1/2 tsp STH seasoning

2 TBS lemon juice

2 tsp fresh grated ginger

2 cloves garlic minced

Mix all ingredients in bowl or shallow dish. Wash tuna steak in cold water, pat dry and place in marinade. Cover and sit aside for 20 minutes.

Asian Ginger Vinaigrette

1 tsp sesame seed oil

2 tsp coconut aminos

1 TBS honey, local if possible

3 TBS apple cider vinegar

2 tsp fresh grated ginger

1 garlic clove minced

1 TBS lemon juice

Put all ingredients in a jar, sill and shake well. Place extra in refrigerator. I would recommend doubling the dressing to use for more salads.

I hope you enjoy this salad and share with me your thoughts. What is your favorite salad dressing?